@harple Yes. Less scary. It’s interesting. I find that when a person shows all sides of themselves, I trust them more. When they are always happy, I wonder what they are hiding. I can see being happy as a leadership and motivational tactic and I respect that. I have been trained that way, too, although I’m not able to pull it off.
I have found that in the alternative, I try to motivate people by being realistic. These are our challenges. They are real challenges and we have no guarantee of being able to overcome them, but if we do this and that (and I believe we can), then we will be successful.
I like to set high expectations, but I’m not able to cheerlead to get people to meet those expectations. I will train people as best I can. I will coach them. I do believe in them (if I hired them, and even if I didn’t, but not as much). But I can’t put on a cheerful face. Just a determined face.
I suppose it depends on the vibe I get from the person who is determinedly smiley. Are they smiling because they are determined or are they smiling because they are hiding their insecurity? One isn’t scary. The other is.